Gingerbread Bird Feeder

During after Christmas sales I picked up a cheap gingerbread house making kit with the idea to decorate it for the birds.  I've been pinning ideas from a variety of sites like this one and this one.

 

Yesterday I assembled the gingerbread house using the frosting included.  This morning it was solid and ready to be decorated.  I had planned on using popcorn and pretzels for decorations but after a bit of research learned that they are not healthy for birds.  So our decorations consisted of two kinds of pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and oats.  Lard was spread on the house first to hold the seeds in place.

                   When it was ready we headed to the marsh to feed the birds.

                                         And they were hungry.

        We carried the bird seed house down the path, leaving seeds as we went.

                         Refilling some of the feeders that others had left.

                              Until we found a spot and left it behind.
                          We wonder what other animals might enjoy it.

 
As we spotted birds some of the children drew pictures.

                                 Others continued to feed the birds.
Standing patiently and quietly, hoping that one would land on their hand to eat.

 
It was exciting watching the birds fly from branch to branch. Showing their nerves as they came close then quickly flying away.

Pirate Day 2015

We celebrated International Talk Like a Pirate Day down at the wrecks.
     
We pretended to sail our pirate ship, looking for other pirates and following a treasure map.
   

          Down on the beach was where the treasure was hidden.
    
They had to walk through ooey gooey sticky mud to find it.  If they stood in one place too long their boots became stuck.  It was an adventure.

We went on a StoryWalk.  The book was by Phoebe Gilman, Grandma and the Pirates.
         
                 And of course we shared a story altogether.
                        
     Other then Halloween this is my favourite get together.

Frog Release

Nearing the end of the school year and time to let all our live creatures free.
This week we took our frogs and tadpoles back to the pond.

It was exciting to take the frogs out of the container and try to hold them.
They were hoppy to be out, literally.  We found it difficult to find the frogs
in the grass they were camouflaged so well.
          
The tadpoles took a little coaxing to come out of the tub and surprisingly they didn’t swim away.  We were able to watch them and noticed tiny fish swim up around them.
 
                         Up close and watching where we step.

A Morning Learning at the Beach

I love going to the beach with the families of StrongStart.  The children are so curious and adventurous.  It always impresses me how many children will pick up crabs with no hesitation. 
                  
       We spent the morning at one of our local beaches with Natasha from
                         West Coast Environmental Education Society.
                   
             
    The Society promotes knowledge, appreciation and respect for the natural
          environment through its education program, science & nature.
                   
        
Natasha walked us out to the tide pools armed with tubs and strainers for
                                              collecting.

      Here is a glimpse of some of the fascinating creatures we found.
                 
                 
                 
               
                           
We then took our finds and put them in white trays to get a better look.
             
   
      
We found fish, shells, hermit crabs, jelly fish, pile worm, lots of crabs (big and small),
                               sea stars, snails, and limpets.
                      
                                 Some of us even saw a deer.

                  
         Natasha showed us a safe way to pick up a crab so it can’t pinch us.
                           
And how to tell the difference between a male (lighthouse shape underneath)
                      and female (beehive shape underneath) crab.
                            
             
There are forest schools around the world but wouldn’t it be wonderful to have an ocean school?  Imagine spending everyday at the beach exploring, creating and learning.
                   
We didn't find my favourite snail, moon snail, but we did find a couple of beautiful
                                        orange sea snails.